Scaling Training on Trauma-Informed Education in Ukraine during Crisis

Overview & Synopsis

This descriptive implementation case study examines how trauma-informed education was operationalized and scaled through an online learning modality during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The course was developed through a critical collaboration between the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) at Columbia University, the Ukraine Children's Action Project (UCAP), and educational stakeholders in Ukraine and Poland. The course was designed to equip educators with practical, relational strategies to support children as they navigate education amid war, displacement, and prolonged crisis. Grounded in the dual frameworks of Trauma-Informed Education (TIE) and Education in Emergencies (EiE), the curriculum development process emphasized localization, accessibility, and learner engagement through an iterative approach with expert teachers, psychologists, trauma specialists, and instructional designers from Ukraine, Poland, and the United States. Early evaluation findings from 172 teacher respondents indicated high levels of perceived value and satisfaction. Qualitative analysis further identified ongoing professional development needs related to child-centered trauma recovery, teacher well-being and burnout prevention, inclusive education, and sustaining human connection among teachers, students, and families. These findings suggest that online learning serves as an effective, scalable modality for trauma-informed education during active conflict, while highlighting the broader, long-term support needs educators face in navigating crisis environments.